Cascaded variable delay system

ABSTRACT

IN APPARATUS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE UNITS IN WHICH A CHANGE IN ONE UNIT IS TO BE INITIATED A PRESCRIBED INTERVAL OF TIME AFTER A CHANGE IN ANOTHER UNIT HAS TERMINATED, THIS INVENTION COMPRISES A PROGRAMMABLE DELAY MECHANISM FOR RENDERING SUCH CHANGES AUTOMATIC. A PLURALITY OF SELECTIVELY SETTABLE TIMING DEVICES ARE PROVIDED IN PAIRS. IN EACH PAIR, ONE SUCH TIMING DEVICE IS SET BY THE TERMINATION OF A CHANGE IN ONE UNIT. AFTER THE ELAPSE OF THE INTERVAL SELECTED FOR THE TIMING DEVICE, AN OUTPUT IS GENERATED WHICH SETS THE SECOND DEVICE OF THE PAIR. WHEN THE SECOND DEVICE OF A PAIR IS SET, IT GENERATES AN OUTPUT SIGNAL WHICH EXISTS FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME FOR WHICH THAT DEVICE HAS BEEN SET. THE OUTPUT SIGNAL FROM THE SECOND TIMING DEVICE CAN BE USED TO INITIATE THE ACTION OF ANOTHER PAIR OF DEVICES. EACH PAIR OF DEVICES IS PROVIDED WITH INPUT AND OUTPUT TERMINALS FOR READY CONNECTION INTO AN OVERALL TIMING SYSTEM OF ANY DESIRED CONFIGURATION.

PAIENIEDAUBZTIHM SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG; 2

MODULE l23'45678 9l0lll2 O CONTROL INC 00000000 00000000 00000000 5 'QQQQQLEQ CONTROL 46 00000000 00000000 11 5 00000000 00000000 l23456789|0 I234567 I 0000000000 l 0000000 COIL 0000000000 50000000 CONTACT 00000000 CONTACT L0000000 CONTACT 0 0000000 INC 0 000000 I DEC 0000000 COIL 0000000 CONTACT 0000% 0000 0000000 CONTACT 0000 0000 OOOOOQO T T 5| (AC) 49 454 000 000 54 55 55 e4 55 5e 5 00 00 000 000 000 000 57 5s 59 67 68 69 IN OOuT IN ()OUT 1N VEN TOR,

RONALD R. RESCH BY CASCADED VARIABLE DELAY SYSTEM This invention relates to automatic equipment, and, more particularly to interval timing devices for such equipment.

There are many systems in which actions are to be initiated at stated intervals. In many such systems, the Personnel Training Apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,146,533 for example, these actions are initiated by operating personnel. In the case of the trainer described in the above mentioned patent, the operator is also the instructor, and much of the instructor's attention and time is occupied in endeavoring to initiate instrument changes in the trainer as the lesson proceeds. The instructor cannot give his full attention to the students; he cannot lecture as carefully as he would wish; and, often, his timing in initiating instrument changes is not accurate so that a false impression can be presented to the students. The use of automatic, programmable instrument timers in such a system is highly desirable. To illustrate this invention and its operation, the trainer of the above identified patent often will be referred to as an example.

In the past interval timers have been cumbersome devices with limited versatility. Those who are familiar with automatic home laundries will be acquainted with one form of interval timer. The accuracy of such timers is rather poor, and they are permanently wired to produce a single result. These disadvantages are common to most prior art interval timers.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved timing system.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved interval timing system.

It is a further object of this invention to provide new and improved systems having versatile interval timers incorporated therein.

It is still another object of this invention to provide new and improved systems comprising automatic, programmable interval timing systems.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds, which description should be consiered together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing of the program panels of a device in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing of a second set of program panels similar to those of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the general arrangement of components of a system in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram illustrating the operation of the system of FIG. 2; a

FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of a typical timer which can be used in the system of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram further illustrating one form of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the reference character 11 designates a patch board similar to that shown in FIGS. 8 through of the above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,146,533 to Carmody et al. The patch board 11 contains a plurality of separate patchpanels 13, 1S and 16, for examples. Each of the patch panels comprises a plurality of individual plug holes 14 into which one end of patch cords such as cords 17, 18 and 19 may be inserted. Immediately below the patch panel 11 is a timing panel 12 which contains a plurality of patch plugs such as those at 21, 22, 23,24, 25, 26, and 31 through 36. In addition, the timing panel 12 carries several settable timers such as 41 and 42. The number and arrangement of the timing system on panel 12 is, of course, a matter of choice, and the arrangement and number shown are but for illustrative purposes.

In operation, the instructor inserts the patch cords such as those shown at 17-19 into the plugs corresponding to the instruments he wishes to control automatically. The patch panels 13 on the board 11 are labelled A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and J. The two panels labeled A and B relate to motor devices in the trainer of the patent, which motor devices are used to drive simulated valves and the like. The panels C and D refer to the operator or instrument of the trainer and are the two panels with which this description will primarily deal. The panels E and F refer to the instructors switch box or control and is used to provide the instructor with control of the operation of the entire trainer in any manner he may provide by the arrangement of the above mentioned patent and will not be further discussed herein. The board 12 contains individual timers 41 and 42 which are utilized in pairs as mentioned above. The patch plugs 21 and 24 are the input plugs for the first timing pair 41 and 42. The plugs 22, 23, 25 and 26 are the output plugs from the first timing pair. Two separate output terminals (22 and 23) isolated from each other are provided for each timing pair so that the otuput from each timing system can be used to drive more than one unit. The terminals 21, 22, 23 are increase terminals, and the terminals 24, 25 and 26 are decrease terminals. In the system described herein the individual instruments can be increased or decreased in value, and each timing system must provide the ability to drive the instruments in either direction. As shown in FIG. 1, patch cord 17 connects the increase input terminal 21 of the first timing pair 40 to the number one instructor's terminal 14. Thus, when the instructor closes the number one switch on his control board, an input signal is applied to the input of the first timing pair 40. The first timer 41 begins operating and when it has operated for the interval for which it is set, it generates an output signal which initiates the operation of the second timer 42. When the action of the second timer of the pair is initiated, it generates an output signal which lasts for as long an interval of time as the sec-.

ond timer is set. This output signal is applied by the patch cord 18 to the instructors number two terminal and simultaneously to the number two instrument (operator) and the number two motor drive. During the time that the output signal from the second timer of the pair 40 exists, both the number two motor and the number two instrument are driven. If, for example, the number two motor drives a simulated valve in the trainer and the number two instrument indicates fluid flow, the two are operated together to show that as the valve is opened, the flow increases. At the same time, the other output 23 from the first timer pair 40 is applied to the input terminal 31 of the second timer pair 50 to initiate operation of the second timer pair 50. The operation of the second timer pair 50 is the same as that of the first timer pair 40, except that the output from the second timer pair 50 is applied to number four instrument to cause the decrease of that instrument. The output of the second timer pair 50 is also used to initiate the operation of the third timer pair, and so on.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 except that the patch board 11 of FIG. 1 has been replaced with a different patch board 44 in FIG. 2. The patch board 44 comprises a plurality of patch panels such as the instrument patch panels 45, the signal panels 47, the miscellaneous function panels 48 and the isolation panels 49. Except for the instrument panels 45, the patch panels have little function with this invention and will not be described in detail. Panel 47 is used to connect the instructors console to the signals or alarms on the trainer. This description is still proceeding with the trainer of the patent in mind as an example of this invention. The miscellaneous control panels 48 are also used by the instructor to control the operation of the trainer in such manners as the control of the individual motors which drive devices other than the instruments. The isolation panels 49 are used in the same manner as the corresponding panels in FIG. 1 and as described in the patent in detail. The board 12 of FIG. 2 is the same as the board 12 of FIG. 1 and is used in the same manner. The patch plugs 46 in the panels 45 are connected to corresponding instruments on the trainer board and are provided in two banks; one bank for causing the instruments to increase in value, and the other bank for causing the instruments to decrease in value. There are two such panels 45 for each block of instruments, and they are labeled control I and control II. Each instrument comprises two parts or pointers, and the two separate control panels 45 are for these two pointers. They may be operated independently of each other, or they may be synchronized to operate together. As shown in FIG. 2, a patch cord 51 connects the input terminal 54 of the first timer pair 70 to the increase plug 46 of the first instrument for the number two pointer. A second patch cord 52 connects output one of the first timer pair 70 to the increase plug of the instrument two, and a patch cord 53 connects the output one of the second timer system 80 to the plug for the instrument three. At the same time, the second output of the first timer pair 70 is connected to the input to ,the second timer pair 80. These connections are but illustrative and it should be realized that additional and other such connections can readily be made.

The system shown in FIG. 2 operates the same as that of FIG. 1 and will be explained but briefly. Any signal which is applied to an instrument also appears at the appropriate terminal on the patch panels 45. Thus, when the instructor depresses his control or decreasing the reading of the instrument one, that signal also appears at the decrease terminal of instrument one on the panel 45. This is applied by the cord 51 to the input terminal 54 of the first timer pair 70. The operation of the first timer 71 of the pair 70 is initiated. When the interval for which that timer is set expires, a signal is generated and is applied to the input of the second timer 72 of the pair 70 to initiate the operation of that timer. When the second timer is actuated, it produces an output signal which lasts for as long as that timer is actuated. During this interval, the signal is applied to the decrease terminal of instrument two, and that instrument will decrease its reading during that time. At the same time, the output signal from the second timer 72 of the pair'70 is applied as an input to the first timer 71 of the second pair to initiate operation of that timer. The operation of the system proceeds along these lines.

FIG. 3 illustrates in block form one arrangement of i the devices described above. Energizing current is applied to a pair of input terminals 73. The terminal 73 is connected through a normally open momentary closing pushbutton switch 74 to the input of an isolation circuit 75. The output of the isolation circuit 75 is connected to the input of the first timer 76 whose output is applied to the input of the second timer 77. The output of the second timer 77 is applied to an instrument 78.

Although the operation of the system shown in FIG. 3 should be clear from the above descriptions, it will be explained with the timing curve of FIG. 4. When the switch 74 is closed momentarily, electrical energy connected to the terminals 73 is applied to the input of the first timer 76 through an isolation circuit 75. The isolation circuit serves to prevent crosstalk and feedback between units, particularly when a common power supply is used. The pulse applied to the input of the first timer 76 is shown in FIG. 4 at 81. This is at time 0. Assume for this discussion that timer 76 is set for an interval of 15 seconds. At the expiration of that interval, the timer 76 generates a pulse 83 which is applied to the input of the second timer 77. This pulse actuates the second timer which then generates an output for the time interval at which it had been set. As shown in FIG. 4, the second timer 77 has been set for 15 seconds, also. The instruments 78 used in trainers of the type shown in the Carmondy et al. patent are usually integrating type instruments which contain motors. The final reading of an instrument is proportional to the time that the motor is energized. Thus, the length of time that the output from the second timer 77 exists determines, in part, the final reading at any time of the instrument 78. In addition, the instrument motor is reversible so that the instrument may be caused to increase its reading or decrease it.

FIG. 5 illustrates one typical timer which has been found to be suitable in systems of the Carmody et al type. The timer comprises a pair of terminals 85 and 86 to which an electrical potential can be applied. Terminal 85 is connected through diode 84 to a resistor 88 and a capacitor 87. The other side of the capacitor 87 is connected to the other terminal 86. The other side of the resistor 88 is connected to one side of a relay coil 89 which has a core 91, and the other side of the coil 89 is connected to the collector of a transistor 92. The emitter of the transistor 92 is connected through a resistor 93 to the terminal 86, and to one side of a resistor 94 which is connected in parallel with the series arrangement of the coil 89 and the transistor 92. A potentiometer has one end connected to the one end of the coil 89, and its other end connected to the base of the transistor 92. The other end of the potentiometer 90 is also connected to one end of a resistor 95 whose other end is connected to a stationarycontact 97 of a relay switch 96 and to one end of a resistor 108. The switch 96 also comprises a movable contact 98and a second stationary contact 99. The other stationary contact 99 is connected to one end of a resistor 109 whose other end is connected to terminal 86 and to one side of a capacitor 111. The other side of the capacitor 111 is connected to the movable contact 98 and to the other side of the resistor 108. A second relay switch 101 comprising stationary contacts 102 and 104 and a movable contact 103 is also provided. If desired, another such relay switch can also be provided. The'stationary contact 102 is connected to a terminal 105, the movable contact 103 is connected to a terminal 106, and the stationary contact 104 is connected to a terminal 107. The two movable contacts 98 and 103, and any others which may be provided, are ganged to move together with the energization of the-coil 89.

a When a voltage is applied to the terminals 85 and 86, current flows through the circuit and charges the ca pacitor 87 and capacitor 111. The capacitor 111 charges through small resistors 88 and 95 and the potentiometer 90 whose value is determined by the setting of the slide contact. The capacitor 87 charges almost immediately because the potential applied at the terminals 85 and 86 is directly across it. The conduction of the transistor 92 depends upon the potential applied to its base from the junction of the base and the potentiometer 90. This potential depends upon the charge on the capacitor 111 at any time. Once the capacitor 111 has charged to the point where the potential applied to the base causes the impedance of the transistor 92 to drop to the point where the series arrangement of the transistor 92 and the coil 89 passes sufficient current for the relay to operate, the movable contacts 98 and 103 move. This applies the capacitor 11 1 across the terminals 85 and 86 through the resistor 108 and provides a discharge path for the capacitor 111 through the large resistor 109. When the relay operated, the potential applied to the input terminals 85 and 86 decays, and the coil 89-transistor 92 path is supplied with current from the discharging capacitor 87. The charge on the capacitor 87 is sufficient to maintain suitable current flow through the coil 89 for the desired duration. Again, the impedance of the transistor 92 depends upon the potential applied to its base electrode, and this potential'depends upon the charge on the discharging capacitor 111. The rate at which the capacitor 111 discharges through the two paths of resistor 109 and through the resistors 108, 95, potentiometer 90 and the coil 89-transistor 92 path, again depends in part upon the setting of the slide contact of the potentiometer 90. When the capacitor 11 1 has discharged sufficiently, the potential on the base drops to the point where the transistor 92 becomes essentially nonconductive. At that point in time, the movable contacts 98 and 103 move back to the positions shown. When the movable contact 103 originally moved from its rest position, it broke its circuit with contact 102 and completed a circuit with contact 104. If the terminal 106 is connected to a source of electrical energy, then one circuit is broken and another is established. With the terminal 107 connected to an instrument, the instrument is supplied with energy so long as the circuit through the contacts 103 and 104 is maintained.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram which may expalin the isolation circuitry and the interconnection of the timers somewhat better. A source of electrical potential, shown in FIG. 6 as direct current, is applied to a pair of input terminals 121. Terminal 121 is connected through a switch 122, which maybe the momentary closing switch 74 of FIG. 3, through a pair of normally closed relay contacts 124 of a timer relay 123, through a diode 126 to a relay coil 128 of a timer relay 127. The

other side of the coil 128 is connected to the other terminal 1 21. Atthe same time, the junction between the contacts 124 and the diode 126 is connected to one contact of a pair of normally open contacts of the timer relay 127. The other contact of the pair 129 is connected through a relay coil 131 of the timer relay 123 and a normally open pair of contacts 134 of a relay 133 to the other terminal 121 to complete a circuit..A second pair of terminals 141 has a second source of energy applied to it. One terminal 141 is connected through a diode 138 and a coil 136 of the relay 133 to the other terminal 141. The junction between the diode 138 and the coil 136 is also connected to a double throw switch 137 having stationary contacts 139 and 140. Stationary contact 139 is connected through normally open contacts 132 of the timer 123 to the output terminal 142, and stationary contact 140 is connected through a contact pair 135 of the relay 133 to another output terminal 142. The instruments to be driven may be connected to the terminals 142.

In understanding the operation of the circuit of FIG. 6, it should first be understood that relay 123 has been described above as the second timer in a series, such as timer 77 of FIG. 3, and relay 127 is the first timer such as timer 76 of FIG. 3. Relay 133 is an isolating relay. The switch 137 is placed in its top position, as shown, in circuit with the stationary contact 139 when the interval timing system of this invention is to be utilized. Should the timer be eliminated from control of the instrument, then the switch 137 is placed in circuit with its other contact 140. Consider first that switch 137 is in its lower position. When the terminals 141 are energized, current flows through the coil 136, causing the contact pairs 134 and 135 to close. Current then flows from the terminal 141, switch 137 and contacts 135 to the instruments connected to the terminal 142. This is i then under the direct control of the instructor with no timer in the circuit. The operation of the timers 123 and 127 do not affect the instrument connected to the terminal 142 with the switch 137 in its lower position.

Consider now the switch 137 in its upper position, as shown. When the coil 136 is energized and the contacts 134 and close, current passes through the switch 137 and is applied to the normally open contacts 132. To close the contacts 132 and energize the instrument connected to terminal 142, the following sequence occurs. The switch 122 is closed. This switch, although a momentary close type of switch must remain closed for a sufficient time to ensure that the capacitor 87 is fully charged and that capacitor 111 is charged to the desired level (both of FIG. 5) before the switch 122 opens. With switch 122 closed, current flows through the normally closed contacts 124 of timer 123 and through the diode 126 to the coil 127. When the coil 127 is energized, normally open contacts 129 are closed. Closing contacts 129 applies current to the coil 131 of the timer relay 123, opening the normally closed contacts 124 and closing the normally open contacts 132. Opening the contacts 124 removes the source of energy from both coils 128 and 131 and causes timer 123 to operate on its internally stored energy. The closing of the contacts 132 applies energy from the terminal 141 to the terminal 142 and the instrument. When the internally stored energy has been depleted as explained above, the relay 123 drops out, contacts 132 open, disconnecting the instrument from the source of energy, and closing the contacts 124 to condition the entire system for another round of operations. In addition to the isolation relay 133, another isolation relay can be used immediately before the diode 126 if desired.

The above specification has described a new and improved system for providing interval timing in two steps in the operation of equipment. The first timing step is initiated upon the occurrence of an event. This first timing interval determines how long a time will elapse before a second event occurs. The second timing interval is initiated at the expiration of the first timing interval. The second timing interval determines for how long a time interval the second event persists. It is realized that others in this art upon reviewing the above specification may realize additional ways in which the principles of this invention may be used without departing from its spirit. It is, therefore, intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An interval timer system for personnel trainer comprising a plurality of devices which simulate the controls and instruments of a control panel and each of which devices produces at least one operation event, means responsive to the occurrence of an operation event to generate an electrical signal, first timing means responsive to said electrical signal to initiate the beginning of a first timing interval, said first timing means generating a first timing signal upon the expiration of said first timing interval, second timing means responsive to said first timing signal to initiate the occurrence of a second timing interval, said second timing means generating a second timing signal upon the initiation of said second timing interval and terminating said timing signal upon the expiration of said second timing interval, and means for applying said second timing signal to another of said devices, which said other device comprises a simulated instrument.

2. The system set forth in claim 1 further including manual means for causing said first interval timer to initiate said first timing interval.

3. The system set forth in claim 2 further including additional first and second interval timing means, means for applying said second signal to said first additional timing means to initiate the operation of said additional timing means.

4. The system set forth in claim 3 further including additional first and second interval timing means, and means for applying said second signal to said additional first timing means to initiate the operation of said additional first and second timing means.

5. A personnel training system in which individual events are automatically controlled by separate interval timing means, said system comprising a first plurality of individual operating devices in the form of simulated instruments to be controlled, a second plurality of separate interval timing means, each of said interval timing means generating two separate settable intervals the first of which controls the timing of initiation of the second, means for selectively connecting the outputs of individual ones of said second plurality of interval timing means to indivudially sellectable ones of said first plurality of operating devices so that any timing means can be connected to control any of said instruments, means for connecting said timing means in cascade in any desired sequence so that the operation of one timing means can initiate the operation of another timing means, said means for selectively connecting the outputs of said timing means to said operating means comprises a panel, terminal means mounted on said panel, means for connecting said terminal means individually to the inputs and the outpus of said operating means, means for selectively connecting the outputs of said individual timing means to said individual terminal means, and means for selectively initiating the operation of the first of said timing means to operate, said means for initiating the operation of said first timing means comprising an instructor control device.

6. A personnel training system in which a plurality of operating devices in the form of simulated operative instruments of a process control panel are selectively timed to produce desired results at selectable times, said system comprising a first plurality of operating devices comprising said operative instruments, means comprising a panel for supporting said operating devices, a second plurality of timing means, each of said timing means including a first and a second timer, each of said timing means being initiated by a signal applied to its first timer which applies a second signal to its second timer after a prescribed interval of time which generates a third signal for a second selected interval of time, means for selectively connecting the outputs from said individual second timers of said second plurality of timing means to the inputs of individual instruments so that selected timing means drive selected instruments, said means for selectively connecting the outputs of said second timers to the inputs of said instruments comprises a terminal panel means for connecting both sides of said instruments to individual terminals on said panel, means for selectively connecting the outputs of said timers to individual terminals, and means for initiating the operation of the first timers in said timing means in selected order, said means for initiating the operation of the first timer including at least an instructor controlwith means for generating an output signal when desired, and means for connecting the instructor control to the input of said first timers.

7. The system defined in claim 6 further including means for connecting the output from one of said timing means to another of said timing means so that said one timing means initiates the operation of the other of said timing means.

8. The system defined in claim 7 wherein said terminal panel further includes terminals connected to the individual inputs of the individual timing means, and removable means for connecting the output terminal of one timing means to the input terminal of any other timing means. I

9. The system defined in claim 6 including a plurality of timers, means for connecting each of said timers to said terminal board so thateach of said timers controls the operation of a separate instrument in its own manner, and means for initiating the operation of one timer from the operation of another timer so that a series of instruments can be controlled in timed sequence.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 6 further including switch means connected to said timing means and to said terminal board for selectively connecting said timing means into the circuit with said instruments.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 10 further including a double throw switch having a movable contact and at least two stationary contacts, means for connecting said movable contact to a source of energization for said instruments, means for connecting one of said stationary contacts to said terminal board and therethrough to a selected instrument, and means for connecting the other stationary contact to said timing means so that said timing means may be selectively interposed between the source of energization and said instruments.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 32,571 Dated Augu st 27, 1974 lnvent fl gllifford R, Grosvenor et' a1 It is ceftified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column '7, line 21, after- 'for" insert -.-a--,

v: 'CoIu'Tnn'Z, f'line'34, aften "said" (second-occurrence) insert --'--second'---.

. I Column 8, line "inStrumen should be --instrnment-- Signed and sealed this 7th -day of January 1975.

(SEAL) I 'Attest: I

McCOY M. @1530? JR. j c. MARSHA L 1 DANN Attesting'officer Commission'er'of Parent s mm poqosono-ssy I Us-COMWDC 318mm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 832, 571 Dated v A g 1974 lnvent fl Clifford H Grosvenor et a1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, line 21, after 'for" insert -a--'.

Column. 7, line 34, aftef "said" (second occurrence insert "second".

Column 8, line 5 0, "inStrument'- should be --instrument--.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of January 1975.

(SEAL) Attest: I'IcCOY M. GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN I Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM PO-105O (10-69) v I USCOMM-DC 00376.nm 

